Pope Francis's Historic Visit to East Timor

Pope Francis held a historic open-air Mass for approximately 600,000 people in East Timor, a nation where 97% of the population is Catholic. This event, marking the largest turnout for a papal event by proportion of national population, took place at the Tasitolu coastal area, a site of historical significance from the nation's fight for independence from Indonesia. The visit, part of Francis's 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, is the first by a pope since John Paul II in 1989. Despite the fervent reception, the visit is overshadowed by past abuse scandals involving clergy members. The Vatican previously sanctioned Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo in 2022 for allegations of sexual abuse, highlighting ongoing challenges within the Catholic Church in the region.